The Scottish Bee Company, known for its award-winning Scottish heather honey, has expanded its range of condiments with the release of shrub cordials and vinegars.
Shrub cordials, a non-alcoholic syrup used to make soft drinks and as mixer for cocktails, are known for adding complexity and flavour.
The tangy syrups contain apple cider vinegar, known for its health benefits, extremely concentrated fruits, sugars and aromatics.
Made near Ellon in Aberdeenshire, The Scottish Bee Company’s three new shrub flavours include Strawberry and Mint; Spiced Apple and Bramble; as well as Raspberry and Ginger.
The new vinegars are also made in Aberdeenshire and have been designed to showcase a taste of Scotland, bringing some fruitiness to roasted vegetables, sharpness to salads or used as a marinade.
The three new flavours are Strawberry and Peppercorn; Raspberry and Thyme; and Bramble and Sage.
All the fruit used to make the vinegars are pollinated by the Scottish Bee Company’s own bees in Aberdeenshire.
Launched in 2017, the Scottish Bee Company has quickly established itself as one the country’s leading superfood producers with sales contracts already secured with Selfridges; House of Bruar and Edinburgh’s I.J. Mellis, as well as speciality health food shops in the Far East.
Speaking of the new range, Suzie Millar, co-founder of The Scottish Bee Company, said: “The summer has arrived.
"The invites for garden parties are coming in thick and fast, so whether you are hosting, or simply bringing a dish to the barbecue, the Scottish Bee Company has a new range of healthy and delicious vinegars and shrubs up for grabs.
“We’ve stayed close to our roots with this new range as all of the products are made by one of our beekeeper’s wives on a smallholding in Ellon, Aberdeenshire.
"The fruit and botanicals found in the shrubs and vinegars have been foraged and harvested near our hives, so our bees not only produce our honey but play a vital role pollinating the fruit trees and plants that go into our new range.
“Shrubs are known for their complexity in flavour both for alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks.
"We believe our flavours offer something different from the current cordial market. Personally, the Strawberry and Mint Shrub is my favourite, served over sparkling water or tonic water with ice.
“Our flavoured vinegars are made in a similar way to our Shrubs using fruits and botanicals from the Aberdeenshire smallholding.
"We believe each flavour is true to Scotland as each bottle is full of produce that we can all grow in our gardens.
"The vinegars make a fruity addition to a salad dressing, over roasted veggies and as a dip for your appetisers. You also have to try it on your popcorn, it works so well.”
The Scottish Bee Company shrubs and vinegars retail for £6.25 per 250ml bottle, or £16 for a pack of three and are available to purchase on The Scottish Bee Company website.
